The 2023 NFL draft is finally here!
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah enters his second draft in charge of the Minnesota Vikings and there is still a lot of questions that need to be answered.
With the draft finally upon us, here is a primer with everything you need to know about the Vikings and what to expect during the three-day extravaganza.
The Basics
- What: 2023 NFL draft
- Where: Kansas City, MO
-
When:
- Thursday, April 27, 7 p.m. CT: Round 1
- Friday, April 28, 6 p.m. CT: Rounds 2-3
- Saturday, April 29, 11 a.m. CT: Rounds 4-7
- TV: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network
- Stream: fuboTV (try it for free)
Vikings' 2023 draft picks
- Round 1, Pick 23
- Round 3, Pick 87
- Round 4, Pick 119
- Round 5, Pick 158
- Round 6, Pick 211
Vikings' biggest positional needs
- Quarterback
- Wide receiver
- Cornerback
- Defensive line
- Edge rusher
- Running back
Vikings Wire staff predicts Minnesota's first-round pick
- Tyler Forness: Florida QB Anthony Richardson
- Judd Zulgad: TCU WR Quentin Johnston
- Matt Anderson: USC WR Jordan Addison
- Kevin Fielder: Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud
What Vikings should and shouldn't do in NFL draft
DO
- Trade up for a falling quarterback
- If a quarterback doesn’t fall, acquire two more day two picks with a trade down
- Take talented players with value
DON’T
- Select a cornerback just to take one. There are plenty of talented ones
- Take zero wide receivers
- Draft Hendon Hooker in round one
Prospects for every round of the NFL draft for the Vikings
- One quarterback for every round
- One running back for every round
- One wide receiver for every round
- One tight end for every round
- One offensive tackle for every round
- One interior offensive lineman in every round
- One defensive tackle for every round
- One edge rusher for every round
- One linebacker for every round
- One cornerback for every round
- One safety for every round
Projected starting offense
- QB Kirk Cousins
- RB Alexander Mattison
- FB C.J. Ham
- WR Justin Jefferson
- WR K.J. Osborn
- TE T.J. Hockenson
- LT Christian Darrisaw
- LG Ezra Cleveland
- C Garrett Bradbury
- RG Ed Ingram
- RT Brian O’Neill
Projected starting defense
- DE Khyiris Tonga
- NT Harrison Phillips
- DE Dean Lowry
- EDGE Danielle Hunter
- EDGE Marcus Davenport
- ILB Brian Asamoah
- ILB Jordan Hicks
- CB Byron Murphy Jr.
- CB Andrew Booth Jr.
- CB Akayleb Evans
- S Harrison Smith
- S Lewis Cine
Projected starting special teams
- K Greg Joseph
- P Ryan Wright
- LS Andrew DePaola
- KR Kene Nwangwu
- PR Jalen Reagor
Best Vikings draft picks since 2000
- WR Stefon Diggs (2015)
- EDGE Danielle Hunter (2015)
- EDGE Everson Griffen (2010)
- WR Justin Jefferson (2020)
- RT Brian O’Neill (2018)
- C John Sullivan (2008)
- EDGE Brian Robinson (2007)
- LT Christian Darrisaw (2021)
- EDGE Ifeadi Odenigbo (2017)
- ILB Eric Kendricks (2015)
Worst Vikings draft picks since 2000
- QB Christian Ponder (2011)
- WR Laquon Treadwell (2016)
- EDGE Erasmus James (2005)
- EDGE Michael Boireau (2000)
- EDGE Scott Crichton (2014)
- CB Jeff Gladney (2020)
- WR Cordarrelle Patterson (2013)
- OG Wyatt Davis (2021)
- LB Chazz Surratt (2021)
- WR Troy Williamson (2006)
Vikings Wire staff mock drafts
Tyler Forness' top players
Other articles
- All-Forno team
- Unique comps
- Staff bold predictions
- Players the staff wants to draft
- Players the staff doesn’t want to draft
- Staff predicts the QB of the future
- Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s draft prioritizing
- Rise of the power slot
- How to find a backup quarterback
- Vikings’ top 30 NFL draft visits
- Vikings history in trading first-round picks
- Finding modern day linebackers
